Islamabad, Pakistan

Localized protein
infrastructure for aquaculture & livestock

Ful builds and operates modular duckweed cultivation systems that produce high-protein biomass — replacing imported soybean meal with a domestic, scalable input.

Ful Foods raceway ponds at sunset near Islamabad
Ful Foods pilot site — raceway ponds, Islamabad region
35–40%
Protein biomass
100%
Soybean replacement (sheep trial)
17×
Lower water use
3.8 ppb
Aflatoxin — below safety thresholds
WFF Startup Innovation Awards 2025 — Semifinalist
ZarZaraat 2025 — Winner
Seeding the Future 2025 — Semifinalist
ARY News — National Broadcast
The Problem

Pakistan's feed system is structurally dependent on imports

$1B+

Annual soybean imports

Dollar-denominated, subject to tariffs and periodic import bans. Foreign reserves under constant pressure.

2–3×

Feed cost increase

Feed prices have multiplied in four years. FX volatility ties farm margins directly to currency movements.

High

Aflatoxin risk

Conventional feed inputs carry contamination risk that constrains dairy productivity and export potential.

Critical

Water scarcity

Conventional fodder crops consume water Pakistan cannot afford. The system needs a fundamentally different input.

The Ful System

Three integrated layers. One production platform.

Ful operates the system. Buyers purchase the feed. No capex required from farmers. The production module is standardized, replicable, and designed for Pakistan's climate and infrastructure constraints.

Each 1-acre module consists of 6 lined raceway ponds with paddlewheel recirculation, solar borewell integration, and automated nutrient dosing — producing 25+ tons of dry biomass per year.

Satellite view of Ful Foods production site
01

Biological Layer

  • Locally optimized duckweed strains
  • 35–40% protein biomass
  • 48–72 hour doubling time
  • Low aflatoxin output (~3.8 ppb)
02

Engineering Layer

  • Lined raceway ponds with paddlewheel recirculation
  • Solar borewell integration
  • Automated dosing, pH/EC monitoring
  • Environmental controls
03

Commercial Layer

  • Ful-controlled production infrastructure
  • Centralized biomass output
  • Structured off-take agreements
  • Recurring feed revenue model
Ful Foods raceway ponds Duckweed macro Duckweed strain samples Post-harvest duckweed biomass Ful aquafeed packaging
Strategic Focus

Aquaculture first. Livestock at scale.

Ful remains committed to dairy and poultry long term. However, initial commercialization targets aquaculture — fish and shrimp — where feed costs dominate operating expenses, validation cycles are short, and the market is fragmented enough for a new entrant to gain traction.

Pelletized aquafeed is the target product form: dry, storable, nationally transportable, with structured off-take. This converts biological advantage into commercial leverage.

Protein requirement sensitivityHigh
Feed cost share of opexVery High
Validation cycle3–5 months
Integrator frictionLow–Moderate
Subsidy / policy supportGrowing
Validation

Multi-species performance data. Not theory.

Sheep — Controlled Trial

100% soybean meal replacement

Equivalent weight gain versus control group. Improved blood profile markers observed. Manuscript under peer review at Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences.

Peer Review
Poultry — Layers

~48% increase in egg production

No adverse health effects observed. Enhanced yolk pigmentation. Early trial data — further structured validation planned.

Early Trials
Aquaculture — Fish & Shrimp

Feed acceptance confirmed

Positive preliminary growth response. Inclusion rate optimization underway. Structured trials ongoing with university and farm-level partners.

Trials Ongoing
Institutional & Field Partners

Academic validation and commercial field testing across university, private, and public sector partners.

NUST ARID UVAS GCU SBBUVAS Drawdown Farms Chenab Fisheries Prema Chattha Bio-labs Ministry of Food Security UN FAO World Food Forum
Unit Economics

Standardized 1-acre production module

Module size6 ponds / ~1 acre
Annual dry output25+ tons
Production cost (dry)~80–100 PKR/kg
Sale price (dry)200–250 PKR/kg
Target gross margin~45–55%

Economics reflect standardized deployment module. Pelletization capex and drying costs are key variables under active optimization. Biology fluctuates 30–40% under controlled conditions — projections account for this range.

Ful retains ownership of production infrastructure and biomass output. Revenue is recurring, structured through off-take agreements with aquaculture operators and feed integrators.

The module is designed to be replicable: standardized pond geometry, optimized nutrient inputs, labor-efficient operations. Each additional acre deployed follows the same engineering and commercial template.

Ful Foods production ponds at sunset
Ful Foods production site — raceway ponds with solar borewell infrastructure
Commercial Path

From validated system to revenue-scale production

Phase 1

Validation

0–6 Months
  • Finalize pelletized aquafeed formulation
  • Complete structured fish & shrimp trials
  • Lock validated inclusion rates and performance benchmarks
Phase 2

Revenue Activation

6–12 Months
  • Convert first commercial aquaculture off-take partner
  • Launch recurring pellet production batches
  • Establish contracted purchase cycle
Phase 3

Capacity Expansion

12–18 Months
  • Deploy standardized 6-pond production module
  • Expand production footprint
  • Sign 3–5 structured off-take agreements
Team

Built for execution, not research

OAK

Omar Asadullah Kazmi

Founder & CEO

Systems design, commercialization, founder-led execution

HN

Hammad Noor

Head of Cultivation

Aquaculture expert, field operations

MS

Lt. (R) Muhammad Safeer

Technical / Procurement

Infrastructure and supply chain

RQ

Dr. Rahamatullah Qureshi

Academic Advisor

130+ published academic papers

From the Founder

Pakistan and the Search for the Perfect Protein

Duckweed pond halftone
July 27, 2023

Pakistan and the Search for the Perfect Protein

Written by Omar Kazmi

Proteins are the building blocks of life. Access to protein is not a luxury, but a necessity. Any group — of people or of animals — is disadvantaged without a reliable source of it. Pakistan is currently one of these disadvantaged groups, facing unprecedented issues in the supply of protein. The country imports GMO soybeans at exorbitant prices, while farmers either absorb massive cost hits or switch to inferior feedstock mixes at the expense of livestock health and output. Duckweed fulfills the demand of soybean with none of the detriments — the highest protein yield per hectare in the world, with an infinitesimal carbon footprint. We hope to move Pakistan to a less import-reliant, more protein-rich, more food-secure nation.

Media & Recognition

Coverage & awards

ARY News

National broadcast coverage featuring Ful's duckweed production systems and agritech innovation.

TechJuice

Featured for global agrifood innovation recognition.

Pakistan Observer

Covered for UN-linked startup selection and food systems innovation.

Radio Pakistan

Podcast feature discussing agrifood innovation and duckweed-based protein systems.

WFF / FAO / UN

Semifinalist, World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards 2025.

Seeding the Future

Semifinalist, Global Food System Challenge 2025 (WHH/STF).

Ful Foods ponds

Seeking $500K in early-stage equity

Deploy the standardized production module, integrate pelletization, complete structured aquaculture trials, and secure contracted off-take.

Request Pilot Discussion →